Excavating machine



Aug. 15, 1961 A. R. ASKUE 2,995,844

EXCAVATING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. ALBERT R, Asxuf. BY

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ATTORNEY-5 Aug. 15, 1961 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 INVENTOR. ALBERT R Asxu:

mam

fiT ORNEYS Aug. 15, 1961 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 INVENTOR. Amen-r R. ASKUE ATTORNEYS 1961 A. R. ASKUE 2,995,844

EXCAVATING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 CARRIAGE 84, RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF BOOM I OUTER END OF BOOM LEFT-HAND SIDE RIGHT-HAND SIDE DEAD END-MOVABLE MAST LEFT-HAND suns RIGHT-HAND 51m:

DEAD END ON SHEAVE CAGE 64 ON STATIONARY MAST SHEAVES ON MACHINE FRAME RIGHT-HAND SIDE LEFT-HAND SIDE J I-DEAD END- RIGHT-HAND SIDE OF INVENTOR,

MACHINE FRAME ALBERT R. Asxua AT ORNEYS 15, 1951 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. ALBERT R. Asxua ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 1961 A. R. ASKUE EXCAVATING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Original Filed Aug. 12, 1957 wen QZ I LLUJ 200m .0 02m mu22.

INVENTOR. ALBERT R. Asxuz BY "Tom/Z:

United States Patent 8 Claims. (Cl. 3797) This invention relates to an excavating machine and more particularly to an excavating machine having a laterally shiftable digging unit which can be adjusted to dig at different positions with respect to the chassis of the machine. This application is a division of the pending United States application of Albert R. Askue, Serial No. 677,453, filed August 12, 1957.

Excavating machines embodying laterally shiftable digging units are known in the art. However, these prior art arrangements generally leave much to be desired in that they are usually extremely complex, resulting in a machine of undesirable weight and cost, and generally are not easily shiftable transversely of the machine chassis, but instead require considerable time and/or effort to effect lateral movement of the digging unit.

The present invention provides an excavating machine having an excavating unit of the wheel type mounted on a generally longitudinally extending boom which, in turn, is mounted for vertical movement on a supplementary mast or frame structure, the latter being supported by a main mast structure mounted on the machine chassis and being adapted to move transversely of the main mast to locate the excavating unit at various transverse positions with respect to the machine chassis. Control mechanism comprising a novel system or systems of cables and sheaves is provided for facile and efiicient raising and lowering of the digging boom and associated excavating unit. A dilierential, power transmission unit 'is mounted on the supplementary, transversely movable mast structure for transmitting power from the motor unit of the machine to the excavating unit thereof, and is connected by means of a drive chain to a counter shaft on the machine chassis which in turn is drivingly connected to the motor unit of the machine. A chain tensioning mechanism is provided for taking up slack in the driving chain and yet providing means for permitting a sufiicient range of transverse movement of the supplementary mast and associated transmission unit with respect to the countershaft on the machine chassis.

In the embodiment of the invention with which the present divisional application is concerned, the supplementary, transversely movable mast structure is connected to and mounted on a hinged auxiliary frame structure carried by the machine chassis and rockable transversely thereof by means of a reciprocal fluid powered motor unit, to provide for the lateral shifting movement of the excavating unit.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an improved excavating machine having a shiftable excavating unit thereon mounted for lateral movement transversely of the machine chassis and including fluid powered motor means for accomplishing such lateral shifting movement of the excavating unit.

A further object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine having a laterally shiftable excavating unit thereon which is mounted on an auxiliary frame structure which is rockable transversely of the machine chassis, to provide for the shifting movement of the excavating unit, and which includes reciprocal fluid powered means for rocking the auxiliary frame structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide an excavating machine which includes a transversely shiftable supplementary frame or mast carrying the excavating unit, and which is easily and efficiently shifted transversely of the machine chassis by reciprocal fluid powered means in conjunction with a rockable auxiliary frame structure.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction With the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an excavating machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 1A is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view taken from FIG. 1 to show in greater detail the machine, and the operating mechanisms for'positioning and actuating the excavating unit of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a rear end elevational view of the excavating machine, a portion of the supplementary, transversely movable mast structure, the digging boom, and the excavating unit having been removed to better illustrate the drive system and the tensioning mechanism for taking up slack in the drive chain of the system; in phantom lines there is shown a transverse position of a portion of the supplementary mast structure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front-end elevational view taken generally along line 33 of FIG. 1A, of the arrangement for mounting the supplementary movable mast on the main mast of the machine and illustrates a portion of the cable, tilt drum and hydraulic mechanism for tilting the excavating unit from its vertical plane position;

FIG. 3A is a fragmentary top plan view taken generally along line 3A3A of FIG. 1A, illustrating the head portion and associated roller members and sheave elements of the supplementary mast structure;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of the unloading conveyor of the machine and associated hydraulic actuating unit taken generally along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally along line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave system for moving the digging unit and associated supplementary mast structure transversely of the machine, the plane of the illustration being taken generally along line 6-6 of FIG. 1A, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG.7 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave system for raising and lowering the boom with respect to the machine chassis, and for tilting the digging boom and associated excavating unit laterally from a vertical plane position, the plane of the illustration being taken generally along line 77 of FIG. 1A, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a modified form of the invention to which the invention of the present application is particularly directed, and wherein a rockable, auxiliary frame structure is utilized to accomplish lateral shifting movement of the excavating unit;

FIG. 9 is a rear-end elevational view of the FIG. 8 arrangement, with portions of the structure removed to better illustrate the invention;

FIG. 10 is a top plan, diagrammatic view illustrating the take-up mechanism mounted on the head portion of the supplementary mast structure of the modified form of the invention for maintaining the upper portion of the supplementary mast in abutting engagement with the main mast while still providing for transverse movement of the supplementary mast with respect to the main mast and the machine chassis;

FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the cable and sheave system for raising and lowering the boom and associated excavating unit with respect to the machine chassis, the plane of the illustration being taken generally 3 along line 1111 of FIG. 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

In the drawings, the invention is illustrated as being applied to a crawler propelled excavating machine. Referring to the drawings, such a machine broadly comprises a base frame structure 2 supported on suitable tractor treads 3, a motor 4 mounted on the forward end of the machine, a power take-off unit 5 disposed behind the motor, a hydraulic pump unit 6, operatively connected to the motor unit, main mast structure 7 for supporting thereon supplementary mast structure 8 which embodies roller members 9, 9a, 9b and 9c for anti-friction (FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3A), transverse shifting movement of mast 8 with respect to the machine chassis, digging boom structure 10 which is mounted for vertical movement on supplementary mast 8, an excavating unit 11 which is rotatably mounted on boom 10, and an unloading conveyor 12 extending transversely through excavating unit 11 and adapted for lateral shifting movement with respect to unit 11 and the machine chassis.

Frame structure 2 is of more or less conventional character and comprises a base portion 14 (FIG. 1) and forwardly extending sills 15 for mounting motor 4 thereon.

Main mast structure 7 comprises a plurality of upwardly extending arm elements 16 connected by transversely extending cross-members including a top cross-member 16a which extends laterally outwardly of arm elements 16 (FIG. 2). Top cross-member 16a provides rail guide surfaces 17, 17a and 17b (FIGS. 1A, 2 and 3A) for engagement with the respectively aforementioned roller members 9a, 9b and 9c. The function and operation of the latter arrangement will be hereinafter more thoroughly discussed.

Generally diagonal braces 16b extending between crossmember 16a and arm elements 16, and braces 18 extending generally forwardly between arm elements 16 and frame 2 of the machine, comprise part of main mast structure 7 and strengthen the latter. Mast structure 7 also includes generally longitudinally extending beam members 19 which project rearwardly of the tractor tread 3 of the machine (FIG. 1A) and which comprise a transversely extending cross-member 19a presenting a generally diagonally disposed rail surface 1% thereon. Surface 19b is adapted for engagement with the aforementioned roller members 9 for anti-friction movement of supplementary mast structure 8 transversely with respect to the chassis of the machine.

Supplemental mast 8 comprises generally upright, diagonally extending arm elements 21 connected at the top and bottom thereof by cross elements. Reference number 23 (FIG. 1) designates a support structure on mast 8 for mounting digging differential unit 24 thereon. A forwardly extending head portion 25 (FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 3A) of preferably fabricated construction, is attached to the upper end of mast structure 8 and comprises a series of brackets 26 for rotatably mounting roller mem bers 9a, 9b and 9c thereon. as by means of shaft members 28. Roller members 9 on the lower portion of the supplemental mast structure 8 are rotatably mounted thereon by means of bracket portions 29 in combination with shaft elements 294:. A flange 38 on supplementary mast 8 overlaps cross member 19a on the main mast 7 to aid in maintaining the assembled relationship of the mast structures.

The excavating wheel 11 is driven by sprocket wheels 31 which coact with a series of pins 32 on both sides of the wheel (FIG. 1). Wheels 31 are drivingly connected to shaft 33 which is drivingly connected to a sprocket wheel 35 which, in turn, is connected by any suitable means (illustrated in the drawings by drive chain 36) to a sprocket wheel 38 connected to differential unit 24 mounted on supplemental mast structure 8. Difierential unit 24 has a sprocket wheel 39 extending forwardly thereof which is drivingly connected by means of drive chain 40 to a sprocket wheel attached to counter-shaft assembly 42 on the machine chassis. In this connection a chain tensioning device 44 (FIGS. 1A and 2) is provided, around which chain 40 is looped to take up slack in the latter, and yet provide for the transverse movement of the supplemental frame 8 and associated differential unit 24 with respect to the counter-shaft assembly 42 on the machine chassis.

Mechanism 44 comprises a pair of spaced arm elements 45 secured to a shaft 48 rotatably mounted on the machine chassis as at 48a. Rotatably mounted at opposite ends of arm elements 45 and between the latter are a pair of spaced idler sprocket wheels 49 which are adapted for engagement with drive chain 40. An eccentric portion 50 is fixed to shaft 48 and a resilient element, such as a tension spring 52, is attached at one end as at 53, to eccentric portion 50 and at the other end thereof is connected to the machine chassis as by means of bracket and eye bolt 53a. The eccentric portion 54 increases the moment arm of the tension force of spring 52 acting to rotate shaft 48 and attached arm elements 45' and idler sprocket wheels 49, and thus insures movement of idler sprocket wheels 49 into positive tensioning engagement with drive chain 40. Upon lateral transverse shifting movement of supplemental mast structure 8 and associated digging differential unit 24, tensioning mechanism 44 will pivot in a counter-clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 2) to permit such transverse movement of the supplemental mast, and yet continue to take up slack in drive chain 40. It will be noted that eccentric portion 50 is so disposed with respect to shaft 48 that when resilient element 52 is tensioned during transverse movement of the supplemental mast 8, the moment arm of element 52 with respect to the axis of rotation of shaft 48 decreases, thus tending to equalize the tension applied by mechanism 44 to chain 48, irrespective of the transverse position of mast 8 with respect to main mast structure 7. The maximum lateral movement of the supplemental mast to one side of the machine chassis and the corresponding position of the drive chain engaging sprocket wheel 39 on the associated digging differential unit 24 is shown in dot-dash in FIG. 2 of the drawings and referred to by reference numbers 47 and 47a respectively.

Counter-shaft assembly 42 is mounted on the machine chassis as by means of pillow blocks 54 and is drivingly connected by any suitable means (indicated in the drawings by drive chains 56) to a sprocket wheel dn'vingly connected to power take-off unit 5. The application of power to counter-shaft assembly 42 is controlled as by means of lever and linkage system 58 (FIG. 2).

Transverse movement of the supplemental mast structure 8, associated boom 10 and digging unit 11 is accomplished by means of a cable and sheave system diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 6 of the drawings. The cable and sheave mechanism is actuated by a double-acting hydraulic cylinder unit 60 (FIGS. 1A and 2) mounted on frame 2 of the machine chassis generally intermediate arms 16 of main mast structure 7. As best understood from FIGS. 1A, 2 and 6, one end of a cable A is attached as at 61 to the right-hand side of head portion 25 of supplemental mast structure 8 (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6). passes along cross-member 16a of the main mast structure 7, around sheave B rotatably mounted in cage 63 attached to the left hand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of main mast structure 7, reverses back and is looped over the rear sheave C rotatably mounted in double sheave cage 64 depending generally centrally from main mast structure 7. From sheave C, cable A travels downwardly to loop around intermediate sheave D rotatably mounted in cage 66 attached to plunger element 67 of hydraulic unit 60, and then travels upwardly to loop around front sheave E of the aforementioned centrally located double sheave cage 64. From sheave E, cable A extends downwardly and is looped around intermediate sheave F rotatably mounted in sheave cage 66 on hydraulic unit 60 and then passes upwardly to dead-end as at 68 (FIG. 6)

on the front face of sheave cage 64. One end of another cable G is attached as at 69 to the opposite side (or the left-hand side as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6) of head portion 25 of supplemental mast structure 8 and passes along cross-member 16a of the main mast structure to loop .around sheave H rotatably mounted in cage 70 attached to the right-hand side of the main or fixed mast structure 7. From sheave H, cable G reverses itself to loop around sheave I rotatably mounted in cage 72 depending from main mast structure 7, and then extends downwardly to loop around sheave J rotatably mounted in cage 74 on the right-hand side (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6) of the machine chassis. From sheave I, cable G extends upwardly to loop around rear sheave K of sheave cage 66 on hydraulic unit 60 and then extends downwardly to loop around sheave L (FIG. 1A) rotatably mounted in sheave cage 75 on the left-hand side (as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 6) of frame 2 of the machine, and then passes upwardly to loop around front sheave M of sheave cage 66 of hydraulic unit 60. From sheave M, cable G passes diagonally to the right-hand side of the machine chassis and is dead-ended or anchored thereto as at 77 (FIG. 6). Hydraulic unit 60 is connected as by feed lines 78 to pump unit 6 on the machine chassis and suitable valve means (not shown) of any conventional character may be provided to actuate unit 68. Upon outward or upward movement of plunger element 67 of hydraulic unit 61), a tensile force is applied to cable G which, in turn, pulls or moves supplementary frame 8 transversely toward the right-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the machine chassis. Upon in- Ward or downward movement of plunger element 67 of hydraulic unit 69, cable A pulls or moves the supplementary frame 8 transversely toward the left-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the machine chassis. It will be seen, therefore, that an eflicient and quick operating hydraulically controlled arrangement is provided for locating the supplementary frame 8 in a wide range of transverse positions with respect to the machine chassis. The limits of inward and outward movement of the plunger element 67 of hydraulic unit 60 also limits th total transverse movement of the movable mast structure 8. Accordingly, no auxiliary stop mechanism or apparatus is required to restrict the lateral movement of the movable mast and associated boom and excavating unit, all of the limiting being done :by the cable and sheave system in combination with hydraulic unit 60.

A pair of double'acting hydraulic cylinder and piston units 88 and Ella (FIG. 2) are mounted on head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8 and project downwardly therefrom. Each of units 80, 80a is connected by means of feed lines 82, 95 and 110 to the pump on the machine proper and suitable valve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type may be provided to control the flow of pressurized fluid to units 80 and 80a, to actuate the same.

Hydraulic units 88 and 80a are adapted to raise and lower boom structure 10 and associated excavating unit 13. As best seen in FIG 1A, the inner end of boom 10 is connected to a carriage 84 which is mounted for vertical movement on an arm 21 of supplementary mast structure 8. Referring in particular to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 7, a system of cables and sheaves is employed in combination with hydraulic units 80, 80a to raise and lower the boom 10 and associated excavating unit 11, or to angle the boom vertically about the axis of its connection to carriage 84-. The sheave and cable system diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 7 is also used in combination with other mechanism to tilt the excavating unit laterally from its normal generally vertical plane position, to permit the digging of an excavation having vertical side walls even though the chassis of the machine is not in generally level or horizontal position.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, a cable N is anchored to the outer end of the left-hand side of boom 10 as at 85 and extends forwardly therefrom to loop around a 6 sheave O rotatably mounted in rooster cage 86, which is pivotally mounted as at 87 to head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8. Cable N then loops around generally horizontally disposed sheave P (FIGS. 1A and 3A) rotatably mounted in cage 87a on head portion 25 of supplementary mast 8, and passes forwardly to loop around sheave Q (FIGS. 1A and 3A). Sheave Q is rotatably mounted in a generally vertical position in double cage portion 88 on head 25 of the supplementary mast structure 8. As seen in FIG 3a, cage 88 is generally diagonally disposed on head portion 25 of mast 8. From sheave Q, cable N extends downwardly to loop around sheave R (FIGS. 2 and 7) mounted in cage 89 which, in turn, is rotatably mounted on plunger element 90 of hydraulic unit 80. From sheave R, cable N passes upwardly to loop around tilt drum 92 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings. Cable N is looped through openings 94 (FIG. 7) in tilt drum 92 to thereby clinch the cable to the drum and prevent relative slipping therebetween. The function and associated structure for mounting tilt drum 92 on head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8 will hereinfafter be described.

From drum 92, cable N extends downwardly to loop around sheave S rotatably mounted in double cage 89 attached to plunger element 90 of hydraulic unit 80. From sheave S, cable N extends upwardly to loop around sheave T generally diagonally mounted on head portion 25 of movable mast 8 (FIG. 3A). From sheave T, cable N extends rearwardly to loop around generally horizontally disposed sheave U rotatably mounted in cage structure 87a adjacent the aforementioned sheave P. From sheave U, cable N extends laterally toward the right-hand side of the machine chassis (as viewed in FIG. 2), loops around sheave V (FIG. 3A) rotatably mounted in rooster cage 93 on the right-hand side of head portion 25 of supplementary mast 8 and then passes downwardly to be anchored as at 94 to the outer end of boom structure 10 on the right-hand side thereof (FIG. 7). It will be seen, therefore, that upon downward movement of plunger element 90 of hydraulic unit 80 (the latter being accomplished by supplying pressurized fluid from pump unit 6 on machine chassis through feed line 95 to the cylinder of unit 89, such flow of pressurized fluid being controlled by suitable valve mechanism of any conventional type) the outer end of the boom structure 10 will be raised in a generally vertical direction by cable N in combination with the downward movement of sheaves R and S of cage 89 on hydraulic unit 80.

Another cable W is anchored to the carriage 84 on the inner end of boom .10 on the left-hand side thereof as at 96, and extends upwardly to pass around sheave X mounted in cage 97 (FIG. 1A) on the rear-end of head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8. Cage 97 is of the rooster type and is pivotally mounted at its upper end as at 98. From sheave X, cable W extends laterally toward the right-hand side of the machine (as viewed in FIG. 2) and passes around generally horizontally disposed sheave Y (FIG. 3A) rotatably mounted in cage structure 99 on head portion 25 or" the supplementary mast. From sheave Y, cable W extends generally forwardly to loop around sheave Z (FIG. 3A) mounted in generally diagonally disposed double sheave cage 100 on head portion 25 of the movable mast 8. From sheave Z, cable N extends downwardly to loop around sheave A1 (FIG. 2) rotatably mounted in double sheave cage 101 which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on plunger element 102 of hydraulic unit 80a. From sheave A1, cable W extends upwardly to loop around tilt drum 92 in the manner shown in FIG. 7. As viewed in the latter figure, cable W is looped through openings 104 in the tilt drum for clinching the cable to the drum and preventing relative slipping therebetween. =From drum 92, cable W extends downwardly to loop around sheave B1 (FIG. 2) rotatably mounted in cage 101 connected to plunger element 102 of hydraulic unit 80a and then passes upwardly to loop around sheave C1 (FIG. 3A) rotatably mounted in generally diagonally disposed cage 100 on head portion 25 of movable mast 8. From sheave C1 cable W passes around generally horizontally disposed sheave D1 and then extends laterally toward the righthand side of the machine chassis (as viewed in FIG. 2) to pass around sheave E1 rotatably mounted in rooster cage 106 which is pivotally mounted as at 107, at its upper end thereof, for outward movement of the cage with respect to the vertical plane of head portion 25 of supplementary mast 8. From sheave E1 cable W extends generally downwardly to be anchored as at 108 (FIG. 7) to a carriage 84 attached to the inner end of the right-hand side of boom member 10.

Upon downward movement of plunger element 102 of hydraulic unit 80a (the latter movement being accomplished by supplying pressurized fluid from pump unit 6 by means of feed line 110 to the cylinder of unit 80a) the inner ends of boom structure will be raised upwardly by cable W in combination with the downward movement of sheaves A1 and B1 attached to cage 101 on plunger element 102 of unit 80a. It will be seen that hydraulic units 80 and 80a can be operated separately or in combination to provide a wide range of vertical movement of the digging boom and associated excavating unitswith respect to the chassis of the machine. Hydraulic units 80 and 80a are used as a push-type only, since the weight of the excavating boom and associated excavating unit will cause the latter to move downwardly from an elevated position on supplementary mast structure 8. However, hydraulic units 80 and 80a are of the double acting type and accordingly may be quickly adjusted in either an up or down direction to provide an eflicient and rapid arrangement for adjusting the vertical position of the excavating unit with respect to the machine chassis.

The excavating unit 11 is, as aforesaid, also tiltable laterally from its normally generally vertical plane position for the digging of an excavation having vertical side walls even though the machine proper is not disposed in level position. Referring in particular to FIGS. 1, 1A, 3 and 7 of the drawings, tilt drum 92 is fixed to a shaft 112 rotatably mounted on bearing supports 114 projecting upwardly from head portion 25 of supplementary mast structure 8 Fixed to shaft v112 is an arm 116 having a bifurcated end portion 116a. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder unit 118 is pivotally mounted as at 119, on one side of head portion 25 of movable mast 8, as by means of bracket 120. The plunger element 122 of unit 118 is pivotally connected as at 124 to the bifurcated portion 116a of arm 116. Feed lines 126 connect the cylinder of unit 118 to pump 6 to supply pressurized fluid to unit 118 to actuate the same. Suitable valve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type may be provided to control the flow of fluid to unit 118. Upon outward or inward movement of plunger element 122 of unit 118, arm 116 causes shaft 112 and attached tilt drum 92 to rotate with respect to supports 114. Upon inward movement of plunger 122 and re sultant rotation of drum 92 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in FIG. 1A) alternate strands 126 and 128 (FIG. 7) of cables N and W are rolled upon or around drum 92 which results in an upward pull on the inner and outer ends of the left-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the boom structure 10, thus tilting the latter and the associated excavating unit 11 laterally about the excavating units longitudinal axis. Sufficient clearance is provided in the connection between carriages 84 and arm elements 21 of the supplementary mast structure 8 to permit a predetermined amount of tilting of the boom and excavating unit without binding occurring between carriages 84 and movable mast structure 8. The aforementioned openings 94 and 104 in the drum through which the cables N and W extend prevent slipping of the cables relative to the drum during rotation of the latter. Upon outward movement of plunger element 122 of hydraulic unit 118, arm 116 causes counter-clockwise I0 tation (as viewed in FIG. 1A) of drum 92, thereby winding a portion of alternate strands and 132 (FIG. 7) of cables W and N about the drum in a counterclockwise direction resulting in an upward pull on the inner and outer ends of the right-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 2) of the boom structure, thereby tilting boom 10 and excavating unit 11 laterally about the excavating units longitudinal axis, the latter tilting being in the opposite direction as that occurring for the afore-described tilting movement of the left-hand side of the boom. Referring to FIG. 7, it will be seen that this tilting movement of the boom and excavating wheel is accomplished by having the dead end portions of strands 126 and 128 of cables N and W wound about drum 92 in a clockwise direction while the dead-end portions of strands 130 and 132 of cables W and N are wound in a counter-clockwise direction about the drum, thus resulting in tension being applied to the various sections of the cables, depending upon which direction the tilt drum is rotated.

It will be seen that the latter-described tilting arrangement of the boom and excavating unit is separably actuable from the hoisting arrangement and/or the transversely moving arrangement of the boom and excavating unit, and therefore the excavating machine possesses a wide range of operating positions and effective and quick operating means for operating the postioning mechanism, to greatly increase the usability of the excavating machine.

Referring in particular to FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, the unloading conveyor 12 extends through excavating unit 11 transversely of the machine chassis and comprises at opposite ends thereof a drum 135 mounted on shaft 137 carried by an arcuate contoured (in side elevation) conveyor frame 138. Drums .135 carry an endless belt element 140 for receiving excavated material from excavating unit 11 and carrying it to either side of the machine, for discharge thereof.

Suitably attached to shaft 137 on one end of con veyor 12 is a hydraulic motor 142 connected by feed lines 144 to pump unit 6 and suitable valve mechanism (not shown) is provided for controlling the flow of pressurized fluid to motor 144. Motor 144 may be driven in either direction to thereby provide for reversing the direction of travel of belt 140 of the conveyor. Conveyor frame 138 includes spaced arcuate-like rail mem bers 146 which are mounted on rollers 148 on the boom structure 10 for providing for anti-friction movement of the conveyor during transverse shifting thereof. Flange 150 overlapping a portion of the rail members 146 maintains the conveyor in assembled condition on the boom.

Transverse movement of the conveyor with respect to the excavating unit 11 and machine chassis is accomplished by hyradulic piston and cylinder unit 152 in combination with a sheave and cable system. Unit 152 is of the double-acting type and is suitably connected as by means of feed lines 154 to pump unit 6 and suitable valve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type is provided to control the flow of fluid to unit 152. A double-sheave cage 156 is connected to the end of plunger element 158 of unit 152 and a pair of sheaves 160 and 162 are rotatably mounted therein as by means of pin 164.

One end of a cable 166 is anchored as by means of eye bolt 167 to an outer end of the conveyor frame 138, loops around sheave 160 and then is anchored as at 170 to cylinder guide rail 172 attached to boom structure 10. One end of another cable 174 is anchored as at 175 adjacent the opposite end of guide rail element 172, is looped around sheave 162 in cage 156 and then is anchored as at 176 to compression spring unit 178 connected by means of eye bolt 179 to bracket 180 attached to an end end of rail member 146. The cylinder end of hydraulic unit 152 is pivotally mounted as by means of pin 182 to bracket 180.

Upon outward movement of the plunger element 158 of unit 152 tension is applied to the top stretch of cable 174 which causes the latter to shift the conveyor toward the left as viewed in FIG. 4, while cable 166 moves laterally with the conveyor frame and is reeved about sheave 160 in cage 156 on plunger element 158. Upon inward movement of the plunger element, tension in the top stretch of cable 166 causes transverse shifting of the conveyor to the right as viewed in FIG. 4, while cable 174 moves laterally with the conveyor and is reeved about sheave 162 on the plunger element 158. Guide rail 172 has a tapered end surface 184 thereon to cam the outer or cylinder end of the hydraulic unit 152 above the boom structure and prevent interference between the latter and the hydraulic unit during such transverse shifting movement. Sheave cage 156 has a bracket portion 186 attached to the underside thereof as by means of bolts 188 which overlaps as at 189 the top flange 190 of guide rail 172 to guide the movement of the plunger element 158 and attached sheave cage 156 and maintain it in coacting relationship with the guide rail during transverse shifting movement of the conveyor. An opening 192 is provided in bracket 186 through which the bottom strand of cable 174 extends.

Referring to the modification of excavating machine illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 11, inclusive of the drawings, and to which the invention of the present divisional application is particularly directed, the supplemental mast 195 is generally similar to the supplemental mast 8 in the first-described embodiment of the invention except that mast 195 does not embody roller members for providing transverse movement of the supplemental mast structure with respect to the machine chassis. Instead, head portion 197 of mast 195 has a pair of transversely spaced bracket portions 198 depending therefrom to which are pivotally mounted, as by means of pins 200, auxiliary frame structure 201.

Auxiliary frame structure .201 comprises a plurality of generally vertically disposed, transversely spaced arm portions 202 pivotally mounted for transverse rocking movement as by means of pins 203 on bracket portions 204 carried by machine chassis 2. The main mast structure 205 of the modification includes upright arm elements 207 connected at their upper ends by cross member 208, as in the first embodiment of the invention. Member 208 presents a rearwardly facing generally vertically disposed abutment surface 210 which is adapted for relative sliding engagement with head portion 197 of the supplemental mast structure 195 during transverse movement of the latter. Mast 205 also includes, for the purposes of the invention, rearwardly extending generally longitudinal base members 212 connected by transverse cross-element 214. Element 214 presents a generally vertically disposed guide or .rail surface 216 for relatively sliding engagement with the lower portion of supplemental mast 195. A shoulder 218 on movable mast 195 overlaps the top portion of cross element 214 and operates to maintain supplementary mast 195 in assembled condition with main mast 205. The head portion 197 of mast 195 is maintained in engagement with guide surface 210 of upper cross member 208 as by means of a cable 220 (FIGS. 8 and 10) which is anchored to opopsite sides of the machine chassis, as by means of adjustable eye bolts 222, and which is looped about cable take-up mechanism 224 pivotally mounted as by means of bracket structure 226 to the upper end of head portion 197 of supplemental mast 195. Mechanism 224, which is preferably of fabricated construction, comprises generally perpendicularly related arm elements 228, 229 having arcuate-like guide surfaces 230 on the outer ends thereof for engagement with cable 220. Vertically spaced flanges 232 on the outer ends of the arm elements act to retain the cable in assembled condition with surfaces 230 on mechanism 224. Cable 220, as aforesaid, is anchored to one side of the machine chassis as, for instance, at 234 on the left-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 9), and passes rearwardly and upwardly to loop around sheave 236 rotatably mounted in sheave cage 238 on the righthand side (as viewed in FIG. 9) of the movable mast 195. From sheave 236 cable 220 passes around in engaged relationship arcuate surfaces 230 on cable take-up mechanism 224 and then loops around sheave 240 rotatably mounted in sheave cage 242 on the left-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 9) of movable mast 195, and then crosses over to be anchored on the right-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 9) of the machine chassis as at 244 (FIG. 10). As supplemental mast moves transversely of the machine chassis upon rocking of auxiliary frame 201, mechanism 224 pivots to permit such transverse movement of mast 195 and yet retain the upper portion of the supplemental mast 195 in supported engagement with main mast structure 205.

Transverse rocking movement of auxiliary frame 201 is accomplished by means of double acting hydraulic piston and cylinder unit 246 which extends generally diagonally (FIG. 9) between arm elements 202 of frame 201. The plunger end of unit 246 is pivotally mounted as at 248 to a bracket 250 on one of arm elements 202 while the cylinder end of unit 246 is pivotally mounted as at 252 to bracket 254 on the other of arm elements 202 of auxiliary frame 201. Feed lines 256 connect unit 246 to a pump 6 mounted on the machine chassis and suitable valve mechanism (not shown) of any conventional type may be provided to control the flow of fluid to unit 246. Upon outward movement of plunger element 256 of unit 246, auxiliary frame 201 is caused to rock transversely of the machine chassis about its pivotal connections 203 to the latter, and thus shift the supplemental mast and associated boom 10 and excavating unit 11 to the left-hand side (as viewed in FIG. 9) of the machine. A laterally shifted position of the supplemental mast is shown in dot-dash in FIG. 9.

The digging unit of this modification is driven in substantially the same manner as in the first-described embodiment of the invention and a chain-tensioning mechanism 258 of generally the same arrangement as in the first-described embodiment is provided to take up slack in drive chain 40 during such transverse shifting movement of supplemental mast 195, boom 10 and excavating unit 11.

Raising and lowering of boom 10 and associated excavating unit 11 is accomplished as follows: Cables 260 and 262 (FIG. 11) secured at one end to winding drums 264 and 266 mounted on the machine frame and at their other ends to the outer and inner ends respectively of boom 10 as at 268 and 270, serve to control the raising and lowering movement of the excavating wheel 11. The drums 264, 266 are drivenby the motor 4 in any suit able manner and are selectively controlled as for instance by manual operating levers.

It will be seen from FIG. 11 that the cable system 260, 262 and associated winding drums 264, 266 has a corresponding system disposed on the other side of the machine chassis, and therefore is operative to raise and lower both sides of the boom structure concurrently. The other complementary system and parts thereof are designated by similar reference numbers, except with the prefix prime added thereto.

Cable 260 extends from winding drum 264, is looped around sheave 276 (FIGS. 8 and 11) mounted on the fixed or main mast structure 205, passes downwardly to loop around sheave 278 (FIG. 9) rotatably mounted on the machine chassis adjacent the lower portion of arm element 207 of the main mast structure, passes upwardly to loop around swivel sheave 280 mounted on bracket 282 carried by head portion 197 of supplemental mast 195, extends rearwardly to loop around sheave 284 (FIG. 11) attached to the outer end of boom 10 and then extends forwardly to loop around sheave 286 rotatably mounted on movable mast structure 195. From sheave 286 cable 260 extends rearwardly to dead end or be anchored as aforementioned to the outer end of boom 10 on one side thereof as at 268 (FIG. 11). Cable 262- (FIG. 11) extends rearwardly from winding drum 266, loops around sheave 288 mounted on the upper portion of fixed mast 205, passes downwardly to loop around sheave 290 (FIG. 9) mounted on the lower portion of one of arm elements 207 of main shaft 205, passes upwardly to loop around swivel sheave 292 mounted as by means of bracket 294 on movable or supplemental mast 195, passes downwardly to loop around pulley 196 (FIG. 8) attached to the inner end of boom structure and then passes upwardly to loop around sheave 298 (FIG. 9) carried by head portion 197 of supplemental mast 195 and then passes downwardly to dead end or be anchored to the inner end of boom structure 10 as aforementioned at 270.

The terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation and there is no intention in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

I claim:

1. In an excavating machine, a supporting frame, a stationary mast mounted on said frame, a supplementary mast supported by said stationary mast and adapted for transverse movement with respect thereto, an excavating unit carried by said supplementary mast, an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted on said supporting frame intermediate said stationary and supplementary masts and being pivotally connected to said supplementary mast, said auxiliary frame being rockable transversely of said supporting frame and said stationary mast to move said supplementary mast and associated excavating unit transversely of said machine, and fluid powered motor means operably connected to said auxiliary frame for actuating said auxiliary frame.

2. In an excavating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said auxiliary frame comprises a plurality of generally vertically disposed arm elements and said fluid powered motor means comprises a reciprocal hydraulic piston and cylinder unit, said hydraulic unit extending between said arm elements and being pivotally connected thereto, said hydraulic unit upon actuation thereof causing said arm elements to rock about their pivotal connections to said machine.

3. In an excavating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said supplementary mast includes a head portion in juxtapositioned relationship to said main mast, and means for maintaining said relationship, said means comprising a cross-shaped member pivotally mounted on said head portion and flexible means anchored on opposite ends thereof to said frame in criss-crossed relationship and movably looped around the free ends of said crossshaped member, said last named member pivoting in the direction of movement of said supplementary mast upon transverse shifting of the latter with respect to said stationary mast to take up slack in said flexible means.

4. In an excavating machine comprising a supporting frame, a power unit mounted on said frame, main mast structure fixed to said frame, a supplementary mast supported by said main mast structure and supporting a differential power-transmitting unit thereon, said differential unit being operatively connected to said power unit, boom structure extending outwardly from said supplementary mast structure and mounted for vertical movement relative to the latter, an excavating unit rotatably mounted on said boom structure and operatively connected to said differential unit for driving the excavating unit, means connected to said supplementary mast and disposed between the latter and said main mast structure for moving 12 said supplementary mast structure transversely of said main mast structure, and hydraulic means mounted on said first mentioned means for actuating the latter.

5. In a mobile excavating machine comprising a supporting frame, a stationary mast structure mounted on said frame, said stationary mast structure including longitudinally extending base elements projecting rearwardly with respect to said machine, a transversely extending element, including a generally upright rearwardly facing abutment surface, connecting the rearward terminal ends of said base elements, said stationary mast structure including a generally upright rearwardly facing transversely extending abutment surface disposed adjacent the upper end of said stationary mast structure, a supplementary mast structure including a transversely extending head portion supported by said stationary mast structure and adapted for transverse movement with respect thereto, boom structure extending generally horizontally rearwardly from said supplementary mast structure and mounted for vertical movement relative to the latter, an excavating unit operably mounted on said boom structure, an auxiliary frame pivotally mounted on said supporting frame intermediate said stationary and said supplementary mast structures and being pivotally connected to and mounting said supplementary mast structure, said auxiliary frame being rockable transversely of said supporting frame and said stationary mast structure to shift said supplementary mast structure and associated excavating unit transversely of said machine, said supplementary mast structure engaging said abutment surfaces on said stationary mast structure in relative sliding relation during said transverse movement of said supplementary mast structure, means for maintaining said supplementary mast structure in engaged relation with said abutment surfaces, and fluid powered reciprocal motor means operably connected to said auxiliary frame for actuating said auxiliary frame.

6. In a mobile excavating machine in accordance with claim 5 wherein said means for maintaining said supplementary mast structure in engaged relation with said abutment surfaces includes a frame element pivotally mounted on said head portion of said supplementary mast structure and projecting generally rearwardly with respect to said machine, a flexible element anchored at opposite ends thereof to said supporting frame and being entrained in movable relation about said frame element, said flexible element urging said head portion against the respective abutment surface on said stationary mast structure, said frame element pivoting in the direction of lateral movement of said supplementary mast structure upon actuation of said motor means to maintain said flexible element in slack-free condition.

7. In a mobile excavating machine in accordance with claim 6 including shoulder means on the lower portion of said supplementary mast structure disposed in overlapping relation with said transversely extending element connecting said base elements, to maintain the lower portion of said supplementary mast structure in coacting relation with said stationary mast structure.

8. In a mobile excavating machine in accordance with claim 6 including generally vertically spaced abutment means on said pivotal frame element for maintaining said flexible element in coacting relation with said frame element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 558,683 Girouard Apr. 21, 1896 1,476,375 Shook Dec. 4, 1923 1,733,427 Ruth Oct. 29, 1929 

